Fostering entrepreneurs at universities and colleges the Danish experience Torben Bager Professor & Managing Director International Danish Entrepreneurship Academy, IDEA
Topics addressed: Introducing IDEA The International Danish Entrepreneurship Academy How to teach and what to teach Students hatcheries : IDEA-House The entrepreneurial university
5 Regions Finances: App. 11 mio. Euro, 2005-2008 66 partners: 36 universities & colleges private firms incubators & science parks Connect Denmark, the Danish Association of Entrepreneurs, etc.
The Rationale behind IDEA: Advanced economies increasingly depend on competences to: Identify and exploit (market) opportunities Generate new ideas Act/manage innovatively Grow and internationalise new and existing firms So the educational system must provide: More and better entrepreneurship teaching and training Close collaboration with businesses
IDEA activity 1 - New educational activities: New experimental courses for students: cross-institutional & cross disciplinary International master in entrepreneurship education & training - IMEET (2 years, www.asb.dk/imeet) Diploma course in innovation for entrepreneurship teachers (2 years) Intrapreneurship education (The Chaos Pilots) Short courses for entrepreneurship teachers, advicers, investors, and growth oriented entrepreneurs
IDEA activity 2 - New teaching methods & material: Camp model (business-students-teachers) Digital teaching cases New venture evaluation web-tools (IDEA-VIQ) Blended learning experiments Innovative didactics Student networks (Start Danmark) National training seminars for entrepreneurship educators
How to teach: More focus at playful idea generation and opportunity recognition relative to instrumental business plan teaching Developing and applying more action oriented pedagogy: More flexible More project and value creation oriented More student influenced More multidisciplinary More focused at blended learning More externally oriented
What to teach: Four main areas: Generation of new ideas and opportunity recognition Formation of new firms Growth of young firms Entrepreneurial management/intrapreneurship
The importance of skills, empathy, values and motivation: Desired Entrepreneurial Outcomes (NCGE): Entrepreneurial behaviours and skills (e.g. opportunity seeking) Empathy with the entrepreneurial life (e.g. working flexibly) Embedded entrepreneurial values (e.g. independence) Motivation to entrepreneurial life/career (e.g. having heros ) Understanding venture creation process Generic entrepreneurial competences Business How-to s developed Relationship networking skills (www.ncge.org.uk)
IDEA activity 3 - Student hatcheries : Rooms & facilities for student entrepreneurs & graduates Ideas generated by students or in businesses A doing approach: simulate start-up before true start-up Training & mentoring by experienced business people Networking and joint events (e.g. Summer School in London)
IDEA House Model New ideas Company ideas Student Ideas Students / Alumni from: Universities Design Schools Technical Collage etc... IDEA House: Seminars Network Coaching Environment physical virtual Business Pilots Idea Pilots Co Pilots Mentors Entrepreneurs Business leaders Advisors VCs Research
so far, 8 locations
3 Tracks in IDEA House Business Pilot Students have an idea & concept and want to see if it is solid for a business case. Idea Pilot Students try out a number of ideas, and the goal is not to start a business. Co Pilot Based on a concept/ idea from a company, the objective is to establish proof of concept.
IDEA House Costs Investments in 2006: Approx 700.000 $ Budget 2007 & 2008: Approx 900.000 $/Y All costs included in budget figures (initial costs for locations, start-up costs, running costs). The number of students in each Idea House 10 20 at the same time. Much more attend events.
IDEA activity 4 University/Business Collaboration: Entrepreneurs/managers invited to guest lecture and advise student entrepreneurs Students learning from/working with companies (live case studies, joint innovation projects) Improve the regional exchange of ideas (researchers, students, entrepreneurs, managers) project with Flintbox (Canada) Improve the rating/evaluation of business ideas project with VIQ Team (Australia, Canada) IDEAs regional Business Advisory Board
The Entrepreneurial University/College Characteristics: All students touching the field at the introductory level A variety of entrepreneurship & innovation courses offered Innovative pedagogy widely applied Management commitment Entrepreneurial culture Intensified business collaboration
Barriers: Rectors and decision makers only paying lip-service Study administration and study coordinators resisting Most teachers negative or reluctant: Opposed to multidisciplinarity Opposed to involvement of businesses Opposed to training - emphasising high levels of cognitiveanalytical skills Unfamilier with innovative pedagogy and the coaching role of teachers
Drivers: A strong political pressure An engaged and positive business community A growing interest in the field everywhere Interested and engaged students Pioneering teachers Pioneering rectors and decision makers
Consequenses: Short-term: Interested and motivated students and teachers Improved relationships with the business community Long-term: Students better qualified to become entrepreneurs or innovative employees/managers Alumni-entrepreneurs involved in sponsering university/college activities
MANY THANKS! Read more at: www.idea-denmark.dk www.idea-house.dk